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Just hours after agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has again blocked ships from passing through waterway — blaming it on Israel striking Lebanon.
“Due to Israeli strikes in #Lebanon, oil tankers will not be permitted to pass through the Strait of #Hormuz,” the Iranian embassy in Mumbai posted to X on Wednesday, citing Iran’s Fars News Agency.
It comes after Iran threatened to “destroy” any ships that attempt to cross the strait without Tehran’s go-ahead as it attempts to set up a toll system to charge vessels to safely sail through the strait.
“You must receive permission from Iranian Sepah navy for passing through the strait. If any vessel tries to transit without permission, will be destroyed,” an Iranian official was heard saying in audio shared with the Wall Street Journal by a crew member.
Israel hit several densely populated commercial and residential areas in central Beirut on Wednesday — hours after President Trump announced a cease-fire with Iran that would reopen the strait. At least 89 people were killed and 700 were wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Israel insisted Wednesday the US-Iran cease-fire doesn’t apply to Lebanon — as the Israeli military vowed to continue its “targeted ground operations” against Hezbollah.
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